Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-27
CLOSING THE WAR.
charge was on Brandy Barrel
. b" Last Shot Was Over 1t.

sp' greensboro Herald.
uho claims to have ordered
The :. m mot fred on the Confederate side
as - the l.te unpleasantness is MI A.
stlns 10th of Camilla. Ga, gentleman
Fsl,O o.. as he is brave. The incident
$ noas rs BY Captain D. Il. Sanders, an
IS to.u -sde.in-arms of MIR. Faircloth,
id com rsrIy unique feature in the IN
sd ioIIsis torv of the great struggle.
stien Lot. Lott. belonged to Company G,
". FsiI ceoTeis Cavalry. This regiment
second o 0one time associated with Terry's
SIS iOl ToIss rangers, whose exploits
bnous the most highly priced trsdi-
- sn II the war. The intimacy that grew
t'ass . ~ those two commands was
q os ,oss and tender, and remained I'M
~ clV1, the end. A ranger would sue
.tosecc o ,y Georgia csva!ryman in dis
.Jr oeo' rnick 80 he would his own
ttss; . Tbey fought together, biyou-
.!o,le' .orother. and together went on
,:aeu lid. adventurous raid.
rsny 80 surrendered, Johnston had sur
Lee asN only Kirby Smith remained at
;in2 Sasd Of armed resistance. The Con
i1s a.Sv was in It's death throes. Wheeler
isisla.;Jn not to surrender mis- men, but
is.sI tna mis- way across the country to
70 iO 18th west of the Mississippi. To
l9a o ga h. secured the removal of his
u e,[ from Johnston's army, and
.0l !Ds mon one OF the most hazardous
;s.s $50 IN the annals OF war. While
:: .,at,TThere the Confederate troops were
'Is s..y,ding their arms, taking the oath of
:; .1ua,, TO the United States govern
'-.s and returning to their homes, this
l.-. b,nd under their gallant leader re-
~. .'..3 n lower the stars and bars,
~ I,T-sosIer,s bold movement WAS kept 8
IND secret, known only to his own
Ind General Johnston. All thought
DC. The wsr was over. The Federals
In. -, freely into the lines of their late
:a - and there was general inter
ling of the "blue and gray" 1t fel!
!. .-r ne lot of Company c to guard
rAos,e-'s resr. A barrel of brandy was
W".coyered Just inside the reserve picket
.a snd these old veterans, with true
- --i instinct. soon tapped it and
"'.o fast getting into hilarious condi
' "o-' The lieutenant in command of thu
,icyet gusrds was in short time unable
: distinguish q Confederate from /,
'y.nk - and was relieved by Mr.. Fair
10Th. The orderly sergeant. The arom,
tine brandy was VISITED toSthe olfacto.
.iss Of the Union soldiers, and soon ,
,.ooD Of cavalry vas seen coming at ,
.s,i,opg charge upon that barrel. Ser
rs,nt Fsirclotl obeyed the orders of hi
55ief. and the dashing squadron was re
lived with 3 volley from their pickle
Inc. They were dumfounded, and with
ant returning the fire showed whit
f,p The Sergeant advanced to parle
Tith the bearer of the flag of truce.
What the deuce did you fire forp Dom
nm know the war is over?" This wa
srsed out by the spokesman on the othe
.ie.
81 obeyed ORDERS" calmly replied tn
Ssrgesnt. "No troops can pass my line.
But, man, Johnston has surrendered
sni the war is over. Come, let U
n.ss we want to taste that brandy owe
,ieTe.n
Unjust csrry out nv ORDERS" stout
maintained Sergeant Faircloth, "and
sour men advance they will be fred upor
Butt he added, 81 am expecting order
calling in my men every minute, and
you will wait perhaps you may get dro
Of the brandy"
Strange to say, the troop waited, an
tie order came. Then there was 9 gran
rush for the barrel, when Johnny Reb
sid "Ysnk" got on drunk together.
This wss the last shot fired in the lai
VA, and the incident, now published fc
tie first time, will be read with interes
b. those VINO participated in the move
scene, SIS well as the general public. T
complete the story it only remains to tie
hat, acting under the advice Of Johnston
Wheeler gave over his daring atteml
ild, turning over his men to the brigad
'sgmentsl and company commanders t
set SIS they saw lit, gathered about him
lev bold spirits and started TO join tt
lesd OF the Confederacy in his effort I
escape his pursuers.